Means and method for making metallic bellows



April 19, 1932. c. 1.. LEE ET AL.

MEANS AND METHOD FOR MAKING METALLIC BELLOWS 3 Sheets-Sheet l FiledMarch 9, 1929 g rvumtow C'fi'a'r/ks [ea & 5750111416: [hr/H ya]! j IGumm April 19, 1932. c. 1.. LEE ET'AL MEANS AND METHOD FORMAKING'METALLIC BELLOWSv 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Match 9 1929 April 19,1932. c. L. LEE AL 1,854,944

MEANS AND METHOD FOR MAKING METALLIC BELLOWS Filed March 9, 1929 3Sheets-Sheet 5 JTVUL'YJ OM I [fiat/v.4 Elie: L j v flame: C azzzg fryfprovide means for advantageously position- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEcnannns L. LEE, 0']? narrow, onro, um THOMAS cfvAN nnomr'r, or nn'rnon',111cmem, assreivons 'ro GENERAL MOTORS RESEARCH conromzrron, or mrrnorr,MICHIGANI A' con-ronarlolv or DELAWARE v MEANS AND METHOD FOR MAKINGMETALIiIC IBELLOWS Application filed March 9, 1929. Serial No. 345,774.1

a movement of approach during rapid rota-- tion of a bellowsassemblytherebetween, may be utilized for effecting a deformation offlanges upon 'said wafers,s'o crimping the same as permanently to unitethe edges thereof. a

It is a further object of thisvinvention to provide a'techniqueinitially relying upon a frictional engagement which may bepartly 2 dueto gravity, to effect both an acceleration and a rapid rotation of waferassemblies and a .crimping .of inwardly extending flanges throughengagement thereof with an inner crimping roll; and, in preferredembodiments of said invention, anouter crimping element, such as'asuitably grooved complemental roll,

movable relatively to but always spaced from.

the first mentioned roll, may cooperate with the latter in the mentionedrotative effect and 3 may also serve, by an opposed radial pressure,

to deform outwardly extending flanges incidentally or subsequently tothe mentioned deformation of the inwardly extending flanges,--arches ofwhich are formed'by mating parts being interiorly unsupported and saidcrimping elements being preferably rotated'in opposite directions and atdifferent peripheral speeds during a cam-controlmovement of approachtherebetween.

It is a further object of this inventon to ing wafer assemblies forengagement by said rolls; and said rolls may be provided with staggeredor grooved depressions which are tion, but a-centrifugal action which isfavorshapedto receive mating parts providing able to an enhancement ofthe radial rigidity of, the mentioned wafer assemblies,-disposing andsupporting said flanges suitably to the desired gentle but reliablecrimping effect by or during entrance there f into sai .to thosedisclosed in Patent No. 1,607,200,

granted November 16 1926 to Kettering and Lee, said wafers beingseparately claimed in Patent #1,756,911 dated April 29, 1930 on anapplication filed by Charles L. Lee, may

be best appreciated from the following description of an illustrativeembodiment there-' of taken in connection with the appended claims" andaccompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view, some parts pertaining thereto beingbroken away and various optional features being included.

Figs. 2 and 3 are respectively end elevational views taken substantiallyas indicated by the arrow 2 in Fig. 1,.parts being broken away oromitted and different steps in a cycle of operation being shown, ashereinafter explained.

'Fig/i is a top plan view generally consistent with Fig. 2 but assuminga cam-operating handle to occupy such a position as is therein shown indotted lines.

' Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic sectional view, on a larger scale, showingthe preferred general manner in which pairs of flanged wafers may beinterfitted in preparation for the-uniting operations for which thismachine is designed, some details of an optional piling means beingshown.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged but'fragmentary view, taken in substantially theplane indicated by .the line 66 of Fig. 3-.

Referring to details of that specific embodiment from the inventionwhich has been taken as an illustration, a base late 10 may directly orindirectly support a ellows-spinning organization 11, a motor 12, abellows.

handling carriage 13 (including a slider M operated mechanical advantagecam organization 16,manipulable to effect a movement of approach betweenan inner crimping roll 17 serving as a mandrel roll and an outercrimping roll 18 of larger diameter than roll 17 included in thementioned bellows-spinning organization.

The crimping rolls 17 and 18 are shownas terminally mounted upon shafts19 and 20; and these shafts are not only mounted upon and relativelymovable with so-called spinner arms 21 and 22, pivoted upon a main shaft23, but driven, preferably from said main shaft, by means of separatepinions 24 and 25. In order oppositely to rotate said pinions, andthereby the crimping rolls 17 and 18, assuming the pinion 24 to bedirectly engaged by a master gear 26 upon the shaft 23, the pinion 25may be driven from said master gear by means such as an intermediategear 27. All of said gears are shown as protected by a housing 28; andthe master gear, or its equivalent, may be driven from the motor 12 bymeans including a drive pinion 29, shown as mounted upon a shaft 30 andas adapted to be given a suitable rate of rotation through a multiplyingor reducing gear train housed within gear box 31.

Regardless of the means, if any, employed to position successive waferassemblies between the crimping rolls 17 and 18, means such as ahorizontally movable cam 31, comprised in the mentioned cam organization16 and shown as engaging rolls 32, 33 upon horizontally extending camarms 34, 35, respectively integral with the mentioned spinner arms 21,22, may be employed to effect a suit ably timed movement of approachbetween the crimping rolls 17 and 18, after a wafer assembly has beendisposed therebetween or while said assembly is dependently supported byone of said rolls.

Horizontal movement may be imparted to the cam 31, or its equivalent, bymeans such as a rack 36 and a pinion 38.' The latter is shown asrotatable by a suitable crank 39; and parts here referred to are shownas suit ably supported and protected by means of a housing 40.

Means such as a"tension spring 41, shown as interposed between thecam-actuated arms 34 and 35, may be employed to bias the spinner arms 21and 22, and thereby the rolls 17 and 18, toward the open relativeposition illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2; and itv will be obvious that thespecific configuration of said rolls will depend upon the configurationgiven mentionedparts and upon the shape, the dimensions and the numberof wafers employed in each assembly, to constitute a bellows. In theform shown, the roll 17 being intended to be received within, and theroll 18 being intended externally to engage, a

wafer assembly, annular depressions 42 provided in the exterior in theroll 17, are shown as staggered relatively to similar but narrowerannular depressions 43, provided in the roll 18; and, in order that thespinning of a wafer assembly upon the roller'17, or between rollers 17and 18, shall effect the de sired crimping deformations of inwardlyextending and outwardly extending flanges upon the mentioned wafers, therespective annular depressions 42 and 43 are shown as provided withspecial grooves 44 and 45 in the bottoms thereof,-said depressions beingrespectively adapted to receive mating arcuate parts which provideinwardly extending corrugations and outwardly extending corrugations ofthe bellows produced from said wafer assemblies.

Assuming the mentioned assemblies to be built up from pairs ofinterfitting wafers such as are separately shown at 46 and 47, Fig. 5,it will be seen that the wafers 46 are each provided with an inwardlyextending flat flange 48, an outwardly extending flat flange 49, and asubstantially cylindrical flange 50; and that the wafers 47 eachcomprise an outer flat flange 51, an inner flat flange 52 and an innercylindrical flange 53,-the flanges 51 being adapted to so interfitwithin the flanges 50 as to engage the flanges 49, and the flanges 48being adapted to so interfit within the flanges 53 as to engage theflanges If desired, the opposed surfaces ofthe mentioned flat flanges,or any of said surfaces, may be tinned in advance of assembly, and/or asuitable soldering paste may be interposed in advance of or duringassembly; and the fit between the mentioned cooperating flanges may besuch, even though said wafers are formed of a very thin material, as topermit a careful manual or other loading manipulation of the resultantorganizations without danger of accidental disassembly; 'but it isnevertheless deemed preferable to provide mechanical means for initiallypositioning and finally withdrawing successive assemblies relatively tothe mentioned crimping rolls.

For the purposes last referred to, the slider 14 being shown as having adovetailed connection with the base plate 10 (by means which may includea removable side element 54, shown as retained by means of screws 55)the loading rack 15 (carried by said slider and completing a carriagewhich is manipulable by means such as the handle 56) may include one ormore channeled handling elements such as rollers 57, 58 freely rotatableupon shafts 59 and 60,said rollers being shown as providedwith annularcorrugaupon the rolls 57 58, upon the. completion of an inward movementthereof, as effected by such as thehandle 56 (said movement beingpreferably limited by engagement between a fixed stop 61 carried by thebase plate 10, and a terminal stop 62 carried by the slider 14) it willbe seen that a movement of approach between the crimping rolls 17 and 18(assumed to be constantly and oppositely rotated through means of thegeneral character described) may serve to lift a waferassembly 63 fromthe rolls 57 and v58, or the like, and incidentally to impart rapidrotation thereto-and also partially or completely .to crimp the flanges53, duringtheir proportionatedescent into the grooves 44; and a furthermovement of approach between the I rolls 1'? and 18' (these beingpreferablyv the rolls '17 and 18 is shown also in Fig. 2,

driven, as indicated, in opposite directions, and -at slightly-differentspeeds) is effective to produce a similar crimping of the flanges 50,during a proportionate entrance thereof into the grooves 45 in. the roll18.

j Loading and unloading position of the rack 15 is shown in Fig. 1 andopen position of a closed? position thereof being shown in Figs. 3 and6. Said rolls should be understood to remain, in, the illustratedembodiment, at all times spaced apart by a distance greatly'exceedingthe thickness of the metal of which the respective wafers are formed;

' and it will be notedthat the very considerable length of the.relatively movable shafts 19 and 20, as also the length of the mainshaft 23 (shown as rigidly supported by three separate bearing posts 64)assures an invariable parallelism of the saidshafts. A hearing for ashaft 27a, carrying the gear 27, ,is shown as provided upon an extension22a of arm 22; and the described construction (the shafts 19, 20, and27a of'gears 25, 26 and 27 being movable .by and concentricallywith'arms i be executed during continuous rotation of 21 and 22) will be'seento permit the indi cated opening and closing movements to rolls 17 and18.

. Although the principles of this invention may be applicable to theproduction of bellows from assemblies of variousv sorts of wafers, suchas may be stamped from an impervious and pliable metal stock having a 1uniform thickness or regionally varying in thickness, it will be notedthat, in the illustrated wafers, outer pairs of concavities 65,(received within annular depressions 43 in roll 18 and cooperating toform corrugations or arches 67 by union of outer flanges 49, 50 and 51)and inner-pairs of concavities 66, 66' (forming inward corrugationsrespectivecrimping rolls may be spaced apart by compartively thick beads43" and-- by thinner beads 44 of any appropriate typewIt is important tonote that the beads 43' are not shown as exteriorly contacting with thebot toms of the mentioned inward corrugations or arches 68 as receivedin annular depressions 42 of roll-17; and that the beads 44' r archescurved in two planes and/or rotational effects in contributing to theradial rigidity of wafers while the latter undergo the describedcrimping of flanges. For example, as a waferassembly is lifted from thedescribed loading rack 15 or its equivalent, by the elevation of roll17, the combined effects of rotation and gravity, and a friction duethereto, may promptly cause'a partial or complete crimping of theflanges 53, at the same time so flattening or drawing together (bycentrifugal effect) the slightly conical webs 69, 69 as topermit freeentrance of the outward corrugations 67 between the beads 43 of roll 18-,the bottoms of whose grooves 43 may have a pheripheral speed not fardifferent from that acquired by the flanges 50 by the time that thelatter closely approach 1 the grooves 45. The comparative rigidity thathas in the meantime been acquired through the action of centrifugalforce upon the webs 69, 69 may then Joe suflicient (especially in-,viewof the design of'the wafers and the lateral support rendered availableby beads 43', 44, and in view of the fric-.

tional engagements which may result from slight difference in peripheralspeed) 'to transmit a lateral thrust that is entirely adequate gentlybut reliably. to complete the desired crimping, as shown, of both theflanges .50 and the flanges 53.

A return of crank 39 or its equivalent (whose movements may be limitedby means such as the engagement of a pin 39a with the ends of a slot395) from a position such as that shown in Fig. 2 to positions such asthose shown in Figs. 2 and 4 may then replace the crimped bellows uponthe loading rack 15. Said rack being outwardly withdrawn, a new waferassembly may then be substituted or arches 68 by union of innerfianges48 5 thereon in readiness for a' repetition of the 53) a'rerespectivelyspaced apart by relative- 1y flat but slightly conical intermediatezones or webs 69, 69; and also the peripheral or annular depressions 42,43 provided in the use of a lower roller or rollers 57, 58 whether idleor driven, as a platen element.

electrical means may, if desired, be soassociated with the rolls 17, 18(as, by partially embedding the same therein) that, after a desiredapproach between the spinner arms (shown as carrying opposablecontact-74, 75) and/or after such a crimping of the flangesas enablesthe same to enter the grooves 44, 45, a resistance heating system, shownas comprising wires 7 6, 77 may be automatically completed, for aflange-softening.

effect or for a soldering or for other efl'ect. Collector rings 78, 79,with which embedded heating elements 80, 80' (see Fig. 6) are connected,are shown as constantly engaged by brushes 81, 82; and collector rings83, 84,

with which heating elements 80 are connected, are shown as beingconstantly engaged by brushes 86, 87.

If desired, in order completely to free one hand of an operative, usingthis machine, for the positioning of successive bellows assemblies uponthe loading rack 15, or its equivalent, means such as are best shown inFigs. 2 and 3 may be-employed,render'ing initial and final inovementsofthe crank 39, or its equivalent, effective to manipulate the carriage13. To this end, a cam 88, rigidly con nected with a rack 89, is shownas horizontally movable by a second pinion 90, mount ing upon the sameshaft 91 which carries the roll-positioning pinion 38,-the cams 31 and88 being, when used in the manner referred to, so proportioned as to besuccessive in their effects. The cam 88 isshown as steadiedby a guideroller 92 and as contacting a cam roller 93, mounted upon the slider 14;this slider is shown as biased toward its inner position by meanscomprising a flexible element 94, carried over a pulley 95 and connectedwith constantly-acting means such as a spring or weight 96,diagrammatically suggestedin Fig. 1; The rack 89 is shown 'as slidably reta ned by aremovable guide plate 98; and the various-units referred to screws 99;but it will be obvious that these. optional features and details arehere re-H are shown as secured to the base 10 by bolts or ferred toprimarily'for the sake of completeness, being relatively immaterial tothe main invention claims.

Although the foregoing description has included but one completeembodiment of the present invention, it should be understood not onlythat various features thereof might be independently employed but alsothat numerous modifications might easily be devised,without involvingdeparture from the spirit or scope ofthe invention.

We claim:

' 1. Amethod ,of crimping flanges to form bellows from assemblies ofmetallic wafers which comprises: rapidly rotating wafer assemblies,applying externalpressure only to said flanges, during such rotation,for crimping them, and developing by said rotation sufficientcentrifugal force substantially to prevent deformation of the wafersexcept at the zones where crimping pressure is apsures to said flangesduring rotation, and developing by said rotation suflicient centrifugalforce substantially to prevent deformation of the wafers except at thezones where rolling pressure is applied.

4. A method of producing'bello'ws-which comprises: forming wafers withopposable flanges respectively near inner edges and outer edgesthereof,'which flanges form parts assembling said wafers to form innerand outer corrugations which complete said arches; and crimping saidflanges by applying pressure thereto while so rotating the assembly thatsaid arches remain substantially rigid under said pressure, said archesbeing interiorly unsupported.

5. A method of producing bellows which comprises: forming wafers withopposable flanges respectively near inner edges and outer edges thereof,which flanges form parts of arches having curvatures in two planes;assembling said wafers to form inner and outer corrugations" whichcompleteg said arches; and crimping said flanges by applying pressurethereto while so supporting the assembly that said arches remain rigidunder said pressure,an outer set of flan-ges'being crimpedby an inwardpressure applied during continued rotation.

6. A method of producing bellows which comprises: forming wafers withopposable flanges respectively near inner edges and outer edges thereof,which flanges form parts of arches having curvatures in two planes;

of arches having curvatures in two planes assembling said wafers to forminner an outer corrugations which complete said arches; and crim ing theflanges of said inner corrugations y applying pressure there- 1 to whilerotating and holdlng the same so assembled that said arches continued tobe ri 'd under said pressure,and the outer set o flanges being crimpedby an inward pressure applied during continued rotation and by rotatingmeans. v

7. In means for producing bellows from assemblies of sheet metal wafershaving inner and outer flanges adapted to be crimped and interlocked;the combination of a mandrel roll having longitudinally spacedcircumferv ential grooves, a companion roll substantial- 1y arallelthereto havin spaced circumferential grooves staggere in position withrespect to the grooves of the mandrel roll; means for'rotating a bellowsassembly with the convex zones of its external and internal corrugationsonly, engaged by said rolls, and

7 means for causing approach of said rolls to crimp the flanges of saidwafers.

7 8. A combination as defined in'claim 7 in which the means for rotatingthe bellows assembly comprises a hi h speedtransmission arranged torotate sai vgrooved rolls.

9. In means for producing bellows from assembled sheet metal wafers, thecombination of spaced a art circumferentially grooved rolls of di erentdiameters, means .for rotating said rolls in opposite directions at highspeed comprising a master gear, a

shaft for each roll, a pinion on each shaft arranged to be driven by themaster gear, levers fulcrumed about an axis in line with the axis of themaster gear, bearings for said shafts 40 on said levers and a mechanicaladvantage device for operating said levers.

10, In means for roducing bellows a'ssemblies from assemb ed sheet metalwafers, the combination of spaced apart substantially parallelcircumferentially rooved crimping rolls, a loading rack mova le towardand I from the crimping rolls, means for rotating the crimping rolls,means for causing one roll .to approach the other to produce crimpingpressure, and for separating them to release the crimped assemblies, andmeans, separated by the means for causingthe approaching and separatingmovements of the rolls for impiartmg appro riate movements of the -ractoward and om the rolls. In testimony whereof we our signa- 'tures.

- CHARLES L. LEE.

THOMAS-C. VAN DEGRIFT. co e

